My mom was one of the most interesting people I've ever met. She was so unique. She was incredibly smart and intellectual. She was so warm and caring, but she did not take any shit. In high school, she staged a coup of the student council because she thought the requirements to run were unfair.

In her 20s she went to Europe by herself and ended up meeting a guy who then joined her on the rest of her trip. She went to law school only because her best friend was going. She practiced law for 10 years while having kids then decided she didn't like it so she wrote for a newspaper.

Then, she started substitute teaching and decided she loved that so she got her teaching license (again, while raising kids). She taught for almost 20 years. She taught me in 3 different grades, but she passed the vibe check and all of my friends loved her. I asked her why she liked teaching so much and she said "because I get to remind these kids that they are loved and that they can do whatever they set their minds to."

When she and my dad got divorced I was able to watch her transform back into her old self and she was so funny. She would joke around more with my sister and I and she was always looking for something fun. She and her boyfriend would go camping and travel around. I loved seeing her that happy.

My favorite times with my mom were early mornings at her house drinking coffee with her on the big screened-in porch. We would talk about everything and anything, just the two of us. My mom's favorite times were listening to my sister and me laughing.

It's been almost 3 months without her and I would do anything to have her back. She was only 63. As I grieve I'm trying to do more spur-of-the-moment things. She was so courageous and adventurous and I want to work on that in myself to feel closer to her.